Steam drier



Oct. 17, 1939. P. PASCALE' 2,176,097

- STEAM DRIER Filed Sept. 24, 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 5 06] I I 1 0O A :027 27 Q f 6 I J 1:0 11 7 1 :I/(H

Ill 12 l I I I 14 I 35 Oct. 17, 1939. P. "SCALE 2,176,097

STEAM DRIER Filed Sept. 24, 1936 2 Sheats-She et 2 45 .Z-=JP 57:5.

BMW;

Patented Oct. 17, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Novo Patents, Inc.,ware a corporation of Dela- Application September 24, 1936, Serial No.102,438 6 Claims. (01. 183-108) This invention relates to improvementsin devices for removing suspended or entrained moisture or condensatefrom steam or other gases and is especially adapted for use with theboilers of locomotive, marine or stationary engines and similar deviceswherein a drier is interposed between a source of steam supply, such asthe steam chamber of an engine, and a point of use, such as asuperheater or the cylinders of an engine.

Steam driers and similar devices as heretofore constructed have in manyinstances been limited in capacity due to the resistance to the passageof steam or gas therethrough presented by the drying means employed. Inother constructions the capacity is large and the resistance to flow ofsteam or gas through the device is small but these advantages areaccompanied by a reduction in the effectiveness of the drier in removingmoisture from the steam.

In accordance with the present invention disadvantages and objections toprior constructions are overcome by the provision of novel drying meanswhich effectively remove moisture from steam or gas without imposingmaterial resistance to the flow of steam therethrough.

In the representative forms of the invention illustrated in the drawingsand hereinafter more fully described, the means provided for denudingthe steam or gas of moisture include baffle members against which thesteam impinges and certain other bafile members are formed withapertures presenting a total cross sectional area that is relativelylarge and may; if desired, be equal to or greater than the crosssectional area of the inlet or outlet opening so that steam or gas inpassing through the device is not materially impeded. Further the bafiiemembers employed may in some instances be so constructed and arrangedthat steam passing upwardly thereover impinges on a projecting anddownwardly sloping surface which serves further to denude the steam orgas of moisture. These surfaces may also serve to con-' duct themoisture deposited thereon away from the upwardly flowing steam so as toavoid reen- 1 trainment of the moisture by the steam.

One ofthe objectsof the present invention is to provide novel -means fordrying steam or other gases which are simple in construction andeifective in operation.

Another object of the invention is to provide a drier which offersrelatively small resistance to the passage of steam or other gasestherethrough while effectively denuding the steam or gas of moisture.further object of the invention is to provide a steam drier having meansprovided with apertures through which the steam passes, the total crosssectional area of which apertures is relatively great and may besubstantially equal to the cross sectional area of the passage throughwhich the 5 steam enters or leaves the drier.

A further object of the invention is to provide a steam drier havingbafile members arranged therein and formed with projecting inclinedsurfaces positioned to cause steam passing upwardly 1.0 thereover toimpinge thereon whereby the steam is denuded of suspended or entrainedmoisture.

Anotber object of the invention is to provide a steam drier with abafiie and means for conducting moisture deposited on the baffle out ofthe path of 15 flow of steam passing thereover.

These and other objects and features of the invention will appear fromthe following description thereof in which reference is made to theaccompanying figures of the drawings wherein 2O typical embodiments ofthe invention are 'illustrated.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is an elevation of a typical form of steam drier embodying thepresent invention with parts thereof broken away to show the interior ofthe casing;

Figure 2 is a plan view of the construction illustrated in Figure 1 withparts broken away to show more clearly a suitable arrangement of thesteam drying elements.

Figure 3 is a view partly in elevationand partly in section of analternative embodiment of the invention, and

Figure 4 is a plan view of the form of the invention shown in Figure 3with the casing partly broken away to show the interior arrangement.

Referring to that'formof the invention illustrated in Figures 1 and 2 ofthe drawings the numeral I designates a casing formed in the main 40 ofa lower section 2, an upper section 3, and a dome or cover 4. Interposedbetween the sections 2 and 3, is a-cage 5 which is suitably secured tothe two sections and may be made up of numerous blades 6, spaced apartto form between them the vertical steam inlet openings 1.

While the inlet opening or openings may be of any suitable form they areshown in Figure 2 in the form of vanes 6 so shaped in cross section andso arranged with relation to each other that the steam passes into thecasing in a direction substantially tangential to the axis of thecasing, and the cage is made of arcuate or curved sections, the vanes ineach alternate section being reversed with relation to those in theadjoining section, the

result being that the incoming currents of steam are brought intoconflict with greater resultant agitation, and since the sections soarranged extend entirely around the casing, a balancing action resultsand is maintained.

The dome 4 has a laterally extending annular flange 8 which overlies theupper inner edge of the section 3 through which pass bolts 9 by whichthe dome is secured to said section. The lower section 2 is formed withan outer wall it, an inner wall H, and a bottom l2, connecting the wallsand forming an annular drainage chamber l3, to which is connected theupper end of a drain pipe [4. A suitable check valve It is. located inthe drain pipe l4 for return of the condensate or separate from thesteam to the boiler for reuse.

Integral with the inner wall of section Zis a comparatively wide flangel5, extending entirely around the casing on the inside thereof,andforming an annulus for supporting perforated drying or bafliing meansof suitable form. As shown the annulus is provided with openings l6,which register with the lower opened ends of numerous cylindrical drierelements or bafile members l1, each of which is provided with a largenumber of perforations or nozzles E8. The upper open ends of thesedrying cylinders are seated in shouldered openings 59 in an annulus 20,integral with the dome 4. The shape and construction of the members llmay be varied as desired but by providing such means with a suitablyextended surface and with a sufflcient number of apertures the totalcross sectional area of the apertures provided for the passage of steammay be relatively great and may be substantially equal to or greaterthan the cross sectional area of the outlet opening so that theresistance to the passage of steam through the device is decreasedwithout impairing the effectiveness thereof in denuding the steam ofmoisture.

Extending upwardly from the flange I5 is a central tubular portion 2|,whose upper edge is seated in a shouldered recess 22 in the annulus 2D,the upper end of the tubular portion 2 I being open, therebyestablishing connection between the dome and the interior portion of thecasing. The dry pipe 23 through which dry steam or gas passes from thedevice is secured by bolts 24 to the downwardly extending flange 25 of aring 26 which is securely bolted to the bottom of the casing.

Firmly bolted to the outer face of the flange I5 is a baffle 21 which asshown may be generally tubular in form and extend entirely around thecasing, with its upper edge spaced below the upper ends of the dryingcylinders, and its lower end somewhat above the floor of the annularchamber l3. The baffle 2'! thus forms an outer annular passage throughwhich the steam or gas passes upwardly from the inlet openings i to thetop of the casing and an adjacent inner passage within which thecylindrical perforated baffle members are located and through which thesteam or gas passes downwardly and through the perforations in thecylinders to the dry pipe 23.

The upper portion of the bafile 21 extends outwardly toward the inletopenings 1 presenting a projecting downwardly sloping surface 21aagainst which steam flowing upwardly over the baffle member impinges sothat moisture carried thereby will be deposited on the sloping surface21a. This surface slopes inwardly away from the inlet openings so thatmoisture collecting thereon and running down the surface is carried outof the path of flow of the upwardly passing steam. In this way thedanger of reentrainment of moisture by the upwardly flowing steam isreduced and the effectiveness of the drying action of the baflie memberis increased. Moreover, the inner surface of the baffle member 21 issimilarly formed so that the distance between the bafile member 21 andthe perforated cylinders I! is less near the bottom of the cylinderscausing the steam to be forced through the perforations in the cylindersas it flows downwardly thereover.

The flange l5 between the baffle 21 and the cylinders is provided with anumber of openings 21 communicating with the drainage chamber, so thatthe water. or moisture of which the steam is denuded before passingthrough the perforations in the cylinder may pass into the drainagechamber [3 to mingle with that which has been drained.- from the steamin passing through the steam inlet openings, and impinging against theouter face of the bafiie. The condensate or separate from the steam orgas in both passages thus flows freely into the drainage chamber and tothe drain pipe M to be returned to the boiler.

The dome 4!] with which the upper ends of the cylinders l1 communicateis shaped to form a chamber 28 semi-circular in cross section as shown,to direct the dried steam downwardly through the central portion 2 I,where it joins the dried steam issuing from the lower ends of the dryingcylinders on its way to the dry pipe. An eye-bolt such as is indicatedby 28 is centrally mounted in the dome to facilitate handling the drierin installing it in the boiler, and in its removal therefrom.

It will be noted from the description of Figures 1 and 2, that there iswithin the casing, an annular chamber A formed by the circular bafiie 21and the wall B of the central tubular portion 2!, the chamber being openat its top as indicated at C through which opening, the steam passesdownwardly into said chamber and around all of the cylindricalperforated drying members. There is no communication through the upperends of the drying cylinders except through the annulus 2D,consequently, as indicated, the steam passing into the open spacebetween the baffle 21 and the cylinders can only pass into and throughthe central tubular opening 2|, after passing through the perforationsin the cylinders. Thereafter it can pass from the cylinders upwardlyinto and through the dome and downwardly through the lower ends of thedrying cylinders to the dry pipe.

Referring now to Figures 3 and 4 in which an alternative form of drieris shown, the casing is in the main made of two sections, a lowersection 29 and an upper section 30, between which is interposed a cage3i having elongated circumferential inlet openings 32. In this form ofthe invention the inlet openings are shown as formed between thecircumferential vanes 33, the inner ends of which vanes are turneddownward so as to conduct or direct the steam downward toward the centerof the casing.

Spaced from the inner wall of the lower section is a supporting ring 34,which rests upon a ledge 35 of the lower section 29. The inner edge ofthis ring extends upwardly and inwardly toward the center of the casingand is provided with a flange for supporting the drying members orcylinders 38. These cylinders are located at spaced intervals about theflange and are suitably arranged to provide extended perforatedsurfaces. The lower ends of the cylinders 38 are closed except for therelatively small drainage openings 39 which coincide with openings 3'!in the supporting flange on ring 34 to permit the condensate or separateaccumulating in the bottoms of the cylinders to pass to the annulardrainage chamber 39. This chamber, like the chamber l3, in Figure 1,extends entirely around the casing for the collection and removal ofliquid removed from the steam or gas.

Secured to the under side of the dome or upper section 30 of the casingis an annular supporting ring 40 having shouldered seats therein, asindicated at 4|, for the reception of the upper edges of the cylinders38, which, like the cylinders in the form of the invention illustratedin Figures 1 and 2, are provided with numerous perforations or nozzles42. The upper ends of these cylinders are in communication with theannular chamber 43 in the dome. The outer edge of this supporting ringis shouldered and flanged as indicated at 44 for the reception of theupper end of a baffle 45 which extends entirely around the casing withits lower end resting upon the ledge'35; Secured to the bottom of thecasing is a ring 41 provided with a flange 48, to which is attached thedry pipe 49 which communicates with the central chamber within thecasing.

The arrangement of the outer Wall of the lower section 29, and theinwardly inturned portion of the supporting ring 34 is such that thedrainage chamber 39 is formed. The lower end of the baflle bisects thedrainage pipe 46, which is let into the bottom of the section 29, sothat the condensate or separate will pass from both sides of the baffleinto the drainage pipe.

In operation, referring particularly to the form shown in Figures 1 and2, the steam passes into the casing through spaces between the vanes ofthe cage from all sides of the casing simultaneously, and is conductedand directed in conflicting currents (caused by the indicated shape andarrangement of the vanes) against the circular baiile 2! and passesupwardly thereover depositing much of the moisture carried thereby onthe surface 21a down which it drains out of the path of the upwardlypassing steam. The steam then passes downwardly over the upper edge ofthe baffle 21 into the chamber formed between the wall of the centraltubular portion 2| and the baffle 21. This chamber extends entirelyaround the casing and is closed at its lower end except for the drainageopenings 21 and is of smaller diameter near the lower portion thereof sothat steam or gasses being dried necessarily pass through the numerousperforations or nozzles [8 in the cylindrical members I1 thereby beingdenuded of substantially all of the remaining moisture carried thereby.Both ends of the drying cylinders are open so that the resulting drysteam may pass from the upper ends thereof through the chamber 28 in thedome, into the central tubular portion 2|, to the dry pipe whereas drysteam from the lower ends of the drying cylinders passes directly to thedry pipe. In this way the steam is dried or denuded of moisture veryeffectively while the resistance to flow of steam through the drier isvery low.

In the form of the invention shown in Figures 3 and 4 the course of thesteam, in passing through the drier, is somewhat different from itscourse in passing through the apparatus of Figures 1 and 2. In themodified form, the steam passing, through the circumferential inlets inthe casing wall impinges against the baflle 45, but it cannot reach theopen upper ends of the drying cylinders 38, save through the dome of thecasing, and

from thence the dried steam passes throughthe nozzle or perforations 42in all radial directions to the dry pipe. The condensate passes throughthe openings in the closed ends of the cylinders and is led into thedrainage chamber.

In each of the forms of the invention illustrated and described it willbe noted that the perforated cylindrical members present extendedsurfaces and are provided with a multitude of apertures so that thetotal cross sectional area of the apertures in the members l1 and 38 isrelatively large and may if desired, equal or exceed 1e cross sectionalarea of the inlet or outlet openings so that the resistance to thepassage of steam through the device is relatively low. At the same timethe drying action of the baffle members is not impaired since the steammust pass through apertures which are individually relatively small.

While the perforated members illustrated in the drawings are cylindricalin form it will be apparent that such members may be of any othersuitable shape or construction and the arrangement thereof within thecasing may be altered as desired or necessary to adapt the invention foruse in any particular installation. In view thereof it should beunderstood that those forms of the invention herein illustrated anddescribed are intended to be illustrative of typical embodiments of theinvention and are not intended to limit the scope thereof.

I claim:

1. A steam drier including a casing having steam inlet and outletopenings, a plurality of vertically extending hollow steam dryingelements open at their upper and lower ends and provided withperforations in the walls thereof, said steam drying elementscommunicating with said outlet opening only through the openings in thetop and bottom thereof, whereby the steam in passing from said inlet tosaid outlet opening must pass through the perforations in said dryingelements before reaching the outlet opening.

2. A steam drier including a casing having numerous elongated steaminlet openings in a wall portion thereof, a plurality of verticallyextending hollow steam drying elements open at their upper and lowerends and provided with perforations in the walls thereof, said steamdrying elements communicating with the outlet opening only through theopenings in the top and bottom thereof, so that the steam in passingthrough said elements must pass through the perforations therein beforereaching the outlet opening, and a baffle interposed between the steaminlet openings and the drier elements against which the steam impingesbefore reaching said elements, and means for conducting the condensateor separate from the steam out of said casing.

3. A steam drier including a casing having steam inlet openingscircumferentially arrangeg in a side wall portion, an outlet opening, aninterior structure including an annular chamber, means establishingcommunication between said annular chamber and the inlet openings forad- 4. A steam drier including a casing having steam inlet openingscircur n ferentially arranged in side wall portion, an outlet opening,an int eri or structure including an annular chamber, means establishingcommunication between said annular'chamber and'the inlet openings foradmission of steamto said chamber, a plurality of hollow drying elementslocated in said annular chamber and provided with numerous perforationsfor the passage of steam therethrough, each of said drying elementsbeing provided with an opening for the passage of dried steam from theinterior thereof to the outlet opening only after it has passed throughsaid perforations.

5.A steam drier including a casing having numerous steam inlet openingsarranged in a wall portion thereof and an outlet opening for dried steamfrom the casing, means defining an annular chamber within said casing,said annular chamber being in communication with said inlet openings, aplurality of hollow drying elements located in said annular chamber andprovided with numerous perforations for the passage of Steamtherethlough, each of said drying elements be n ra der w t an p ni f rthe to the outlet opening only after it has passed through saidperforations.

GI A steam drier including a casing having numerous steam inlet openingsarranged in a wall portion thereof and an outlet opening for dried steamfrom the casing, means defining an annular chamber within said casing,said annular chamber being in communication with said inlet openings, aplurality of hollow drying elements located in said annular chamber,said elements being provided with numerous perforations in their sidewalls and forming extended steam drying surfaces, each of said dryingelements being further provided with an opening to permit substantiallyunrestricted flow of steam between the interior of the element and anadjacent passage, and said elements being so positioned between saidinlet openings and said outlet opening that the steam in passing throughsaid elements must pass through the perforations therein before reachingthe outlet opening.

PASQUALE PASCALE.v

